10-12 Leadenhall Market
Gracechurch Street
London
EC3V 1LR
020 7626 2454
Leadenhall Market is a splendid and ornate Victorian market, built in 1880-81 and incorporating the Lamb Tavern (photo 1). The market traders have long gone and the pub now shares the space with high class food shops offering seafood, cheeses and game.
It is a small pub, but manages to have four levels, from Old Tom’s Bar in the basement up to a restaurant at the top with the main bar and a mezzanine in between. The seat-free main bar has some superb original features including some etched glass doors and some fine interior tiling incorporating a tiled painting. One window advertises ‘W. Pardy Wine and Spirit Merchant’ who probably once owned the pub (photo 4) and another is the entrance to what was once a ‘Private Bar’ (photo 2). There is also a fine original mirror advertising ‘Bass in Bottle’ (photo 3).
The Lamb is popular with City workers after work and drinkers spill out into the market area, especially on summer evenings. In case you were wondering the two gentlemen at the corner of the pub in photo 1 are having their shoes polished.
